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Ripe bananas and strawberries. Image Credit: Almaje/iStock/Getty Images Fruits and vegetables produce ethylene gas as they ripen. Certain fruits such as bananas and apples give off greater amounts of ethylene gas. Exposing unripe fruit to ripe fruit increases the unripe fruit’s exposure to ethylene gas to speed up the process. Combining ethylene gas with the heat from a microwave helps kickstart the process. Advertisement Step 1 Place the piece of unripe fruit in the microwave....

Wearing and caring for your mask the right way makes a big difference in preventing the spread of the novel coronavirus. Image Credit: Moha El-Jaw/iStock/GettyImages The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) may have relaxed some mask-wearing guidelines for vaccinated people, but “No shoes, no shirt, no mask, no service” remains the mantra for unvaccinated people and certain spaces for all across the country. Advertisement That's because wearing a mask is the most effective technique to stop the spread of COVID-19, according to a June 2020 analysis in the ​Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences​....

Food tracking apps can help you determine how many calories to have a day to meet your weight-loss goals. Image Credit: Oscar Wong/Moment/GettyImages You have four weeks to drop eights pounds and you’ve decide to go on a diet that will help you shed two pounds a week. To do this, you’ll need to run a daily energy deficit of 1,000 calories in order to start and maintain this level of weight loss....

Both celery and its juice are chock-full of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Image Credit: Johner Images/Johner Images Royalty-Free/GettyImages Low in calories, vegetable juices can make it easier to meet your nutritional needs while on a diet. However, when it comes to drinking celery juice versus eating celery, you may want to choose the second option. Whole vegetables are higher in fiber and keep you full longer than juices or smoothies....

Sodium nitrate is found primarily in dry cured meats. Image Credit: Foxys_forest_manufacture/iStock/GettyImages If you’re reading the ingredient list on the food you eat, you may notice a host of ingredients — such as sodium nitrate — that don’t sound like something in your kitchen cupboard. This food additive is used to add flavor and color and to prolong the shelf life of food. While sodium nitrate in food has come under fire due to a possible connection to cancer and other health problems, the additive is approved for use in the United States....

Both meat and seafood can raise uric acid levels in the blood. Image Credit: bhofack2/iStock/GettyImages Concerned about your uric acid levels? This might be the case if you have hypothyroidism or kidney issues or are taking diuretics or immune-suppressing drugs. It could also be the case if you’re genetically predisposed to high uric acid levels or are eating a lot of organ or game meat. Advertisement And if that's you, it's important to know that there are a number of foods rich in uric acid....

Certain military units have weight or body composition standards to keep in mind. Image Credit: KaninRoman/iStock/Getty Images BMI is a standard measurement used to evaluate an individual’s weight in relation to height. Weight and body fat standards are often set for military organizations – the Navy, the Air Force, the Army, the Marines and the Coast Guard – and recruits must meet these standards to enlist or maintain membership. Normal BMI for adults is from 18....

A bowl of oatmeal with banana slices. Image Credit: minadezhda/iStock/Getty Images If you love to start the morning with a bowl of oatmeal, keep up the healthy habit. Oatmeal provides complex carbohydrates to help fuel your body and brain and houses a host of other important nutrients as well. Not all oatmeal is created equal, however, so some label reading is in order to ensure the most nutritious breakfast possible....

Oils and moisturizers for skin. Both olive oil and vitamin E are used extensively in skin care. Both oils have purported moisturizing benefits. However, you need to make sure that you are purchasing the right type and quality of olive oil and vitamin E in order to benefit from the properties of the oils. Some oils are inferior and will not perform in the same way as quality oils. Historically, olive oil has been used longer in skin care than vitamin E....

A glass of orange juice surrounded by oranges. Image Credit: HandmadePictures/iStock/Getty Images Digestive problems are often linked to insufficient stomach acidity, poor eating habits, combining incompatible foods and stomach or intestinal infections. Indigestion often leads to abdominal pain, acid reflux, flatulence and diarrhea. Fresh-squeezed orange juice can help increase the acidity within your stomach and promote better digestion, but it should be consumed prior to eating and not combined with most foods....

Using a resistance band can help ensure you're using proper squat form. Image Credit: Drazen Zigic/iStock/GettyImages Doing quarter- or half-squats can be a good way warm up your hips and ease into squats. Image Credit: MixMedia/E+/GettyImages Doing lots of squat (especially weighted ones) may lead to some discomfort thanks to muscle soreness, but if you have hip pain while doing this popular lower-body move, something is wrong. The muscles, ligaments and tendons that surround your hips may be too tight or out of balance....

Seniors should ask their doctors about vitamin B12 supplements. Vitamin B12 is an essential vitamin that is necessary for many functions in the body including red blood cell formation, DNA synthesis and nervous system function. It is found naturally in many different foods and also added to others. Your need for vital nutrients may increase as you get older. Your health care provider may recommend a variety of nutritious food options to obtain nutrients and prevent deficiencies....

Sauerkraut juice is high in probiotics, but also contains a lot of sodium. Image Credit: Santje09/iStock/GettyImages In This Article What Is It? Benefits Downsides Other Ways to Use It Sauerkraut juice, kraut juice or sauerkrautsaft (as it's called in German) refers to the liquid used to cure sauerkraut. Some people drink the juice, which is made up of pickling brine and juices from the cabbage, for the health benefits it's said to offer....

There is potential risk with eating raw eggs. Image Credit: kulbabka/iStock/GettyImages In 1976, Sylvester Stallone made chugging raw egg protein the symbol of strength in the original “Rocky” movie, but will incorporating raw-egg smoothies and raw-egg shakes into your diet regimen help you build muscle and strength more quickly? The short answer is: probably not. Advertisement Aside from the potential risk of salmonella associated with consuming raw eggs, it's actually more beneficial to eat eggs cooked, instead of drinking them raw, because the protein is more easily digestible....

Orange juice is filled with calories. Image Credit: karandaev/iStock/GettyImages Think juice is packed with sugar and empty calories? While it’s true that drinking too much orange juice can affect your waistline, an occasional glass won’t hurt. This healthful beverage is loaded with vitamin C, niacin, folate and other essential nutrients. It’s also a good source of antioxidants that strengthen your natural defenses and scavenge oxidative stress. Advertisement Tip Orange juice boasts high doses of antioxidants, vitamin C and phytonutrients....

Soy is commonly used in Asian cuisine. Image Credit: DAJ/amana images/Getty Images Soy is a widely used food in processed meats, milk alternatives, and Far Eastern cuisine. Soy is made from soy beans, a legume related to the peanut and other beans. According to National Public Radio, soybeans contain a chemical called tyramine, which is considered a chemical that can trigger headaches. Headaches may also be a result of a soy allergy that causes your sinuses to swell, leading to pressure and pain throughout the head....

Is this an emergency? If you are experiencing serious medical symptoms, please see the National Library of Medicine’s list of signs you need emergency medical attention or call 911. The best foot massager for you depends on the type of sensation and the amount of pressure you prefer. Image Credit: Gaiam/RENPHO/Snailax/LIVESTRONG.com Image Credit: Gaiam/RENPHO/Snailax/LIVESTRONG.com How We Choose Best Overall Best on a Budget Best Splurge Best Handheld Best Roller Best Water Massager What to Look For What to Avoid Visit Page https://www....

A bran diet, high in fiber, has many health benefits and does not have to be dull or tasteless. Image Credit: eddieutah/iStock/GettyImages Bran has a bad reputation. The word brings to mind moms forcing kids to eat cardboard-like breakfast cereal, and people self-imposing that same boring cereal on themselves in order to lose weight. But a bran diet, high in fiber, has many health benefits and does not have to be dull or tasteless....

Aim for arms that are equally muscular on all sides. Image Credit: Ibrakovic/iStock/Getty Images The biceps and triceps are opposing muscle groups on the front and back of your upper arm, respectively, and should be balanced for optimal performance and to minimize injuries. The biceps muscle group consists of two heads and the triceps have three. Their purpose is to flex and extend the elbow. Advertisement Tri is for Three It can be common to see bodybuilders and fitness enthusiasts place more attention on building the biceps, since they are front and center on the arm and viewed more often than the triceps....

A plate of fish and chips with tartar sauce on a restaurant table. Image Credit: Fudio/iStock/Getty Images The U.S. Department of Agriculture recommends you vary your sources of protein to include more fish because eating more fish lowers your risk of heart disease. While fried fish is not the healthiest way for you to increase your fish intake, it is a source of both protein and carbohydrates. Knowing the amount of protein and carbohydrate in a serving of fried fish can help you determine how it fits into your healthy meal plan....